Non-nutritional stress acclimation of mycorrhizal woody plants exposed to drought

Abstract

Mycorrhizal enhancement of drought resistance of two woody plant species, loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) and rose (Rosa hybrida L. cv. Ferdy), occurred independently of phosphorus nutrition. Mycorrhizae tended to alter root morphology and carbon allocation patterns of shoots and roots. Increased drought resistance of mycorrhizal plants was in part attributed to drought-induced colonization by mycorrhizae and the ability of the mycorrhizal plants to maintain high transpiration rates as a result of greater lateral root formation and lower shoot mass (in ectomycorrhizal loblolly pine), and a higher root/shoot ratio and leaf abscission (in endomycorrhizal roses). Neither the endo- nor ectomycorrhizal symbionts affected osmotic adjustment of droughted plants.

The Role of Plants in the Effects of Global Change on Nutrient Availability and Stoichiometry in the Plant-Soil System

“…Coinciding with these general physiological responses, an increase of mycorrhizal symbiosis under drought is frequently observed in field studies (RuizLozano et al, 1995;Davies et al, 1996;Al-Karaki and Al-Raddad, 1997;Shi et al, 2002;Roldán et al, 2008). The enhancement of mycorrhizal symbiosis improves the capacity of plants to take up both water and nutrients (Ruiz-Lozano et al, 1995;Alvarez et al, 2009;Wu et al, 2011a).…”

Response to water deficit of Nothofagus dombeyi plants inoculated with a specific (Descolea antárctica Sing) and non-specific (Pisolithus tinctorious (Pers.) Coker & Couch) ectomycorrhizal fungi

“…Whereas an increase of OA is reported in mycorrhizal rose plants subjected to water stress but nor in pepper (Augé et al 1986, Davies et al 1993) neither in Pinus taeda (loblolly pine) seedlings colonized with the ectomycorrhizal fungi P. tinctorius (Davies et al 1996). We assume that despite the water parameters decreased under the DR treatment, in NI and IN-Pt and IN-Da seedlings, the leaf cell water hydration was adequate to maintain the functionality of the photosynthetic machinery, as evidenced by the similar or higher values of the ΦPSII obtained under DR conditions with respect to the WW (Fig.…”

“…Water deficit of plants can be alleviated by mycorrhizal associations due to a variety of morphophysiological and biochemical strategies (Bréda et al 2006). Mycorrhizal fungi alter the root system morphology, enabling infected plants to explore more soil volume and extract more water than nonmycorrhizal plants during drought (Davies et al 1996). This provides to mycorrhizal plants subjected to drought with adequate water uptake and internal hydration to preserve their physiological activity more efficiently than non-mycorrhizal plants (Nelsen 1987, Bryla & Duniway 1997, Morte et al 2000, Augé 2001).…”

Mycorrhizal Fungi Increase Chromium Uptake by Sunflower Plants: Influence on Tissue Mineral Concentration, Growth, and Gas Exchange

“…[9] Mycorrhiza increase nutrient and water uptake, alleviate cultural and environmental stresses, and enhance disease resistance and plant health. [14][15][16][17][18][19] An important arbuscular mycorrhizal genus is Glomus, which colonize a variety of host species, [6] including sunflower. [20] Mycorrhizal fungi are a direct link between soil and roots, and consequently of great importance in phytoremediation-potentially enhancing heavy metal availability and plant tolerance.…”